Sinha says he lives US like a refugee, seeks asylum

M Humayun Kabir :  Former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said he is living as a refugee in the United States and is seeking asylum in the country.
He made the remarks during the launch of his much-discussed and controversial book “A Broken Dream: Rule of Law, Human Rights and Democracy” at the National Press Club in Washington on Saturday, reports Daily Observer.
“Actually I don’t have any status right now. I would request the authorities here to help me to stay because my visa is expiring. I sought political asylum but no decision has been made,” said the former chief justice of Bangladesh.
“I am now living as a refugee in a free and independent environment. Human rights are protected in this country and we can speak out against wrongs and injustice.”
Sinha reiterated that the book had not been backed by political forces. “I did not allow till now any politician to come in contact with me. Though our government is making allegations that some political parties are helping and even said … Jamaat’s Barrister Razzak was involved, no political element helped me. Only some very senior citizens who are doctors, who are professors, who are journalists.”
Sinha acknowledged that there were many errors in the book.
William Milam, the 82-year-old diplomat and senior policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, was the chief speaker at the programme.
Sinha went on leave in October 2017 amid an ‘unprecedented’ situation that followed the Supreme Court decision abolishing the 16th amendment to the constitution. He faced sharp criticism from the ruling party for certain remarks in his judgment.
The government said he was sick, but before leaving Bangladesh on Oct 13, Sinha said he was ‘not sick, but embarrassed’ at the criticism by the ruling Awami League.
On Nov 11, at the end of his leave, the government said Sinha had resigned.
After his resignation, the Supreme Court, in a rare statement, said that Sinha had been facing 11 specific charges, including corruption, money laundering, financial irregularities and moral blunder.
Sinha was the first Bangladeshi chief justice to resign the post.